Author: Rhys Gregory

A top-performing learner from Caerphilly has received a prestigious award for achieving high A-level grades during the coronavirus pandemic. Leah Morgan, 18, achieved four A* grades in mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics at Coleg y Cymoedd, and has now received the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales Award in recognition of her excellent examination results during a very difficult period. The award is designed to reward talented students and encourage them to continue developing their skills in higher education and employment. Previous winners include gold Olympic medallist and joint flag bearer for Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Hannah Mills,…

A fintech is trebling the size of its tech, product and development team as it responds to growing demand in the UK and internationally for its pioneering Lending as a Service (LaaS) offering. The hiring spree will see Sonovate’s tech team grow from 20 to 60 people by early 2022, by which time it will account for around half of the total workforce at the Cardiff and London-based company. It comes as Sonovate, which provides tech-driven finance to businesses that use contractors and freelancers, accelerates its growth in the emerging LaaS space and cements its position as a challenger to…

Food service business Compass Group completed a notable hat-trick at the annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by one of Wales’ top training companies. The company and its employees celebrated three awards at the event which recognised employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company. Compass Group won the Macro Employer of the Year award while catering manager Stewart Wooles and chef Alastair Jones, both employees of Compass Group (ESS) at RRC Crickhowell, won the Apprentice of the Year and Foundation Apprentice of the Year awards respectively. Flint-based IT and…

Wales-headquartered trade credit insurer Atradius has launched a new hybrid-working policy giving staff flexibility to work from home over the long term. The new way of working will offer Atradius staff the opportunity to spend up to 40% of the time working remotely. The ‘hybrid working philosophy’ was developed by Atradius, which has its UK headquarters in Cardiff Bay, in consultation with staff, with a clear preference identified for maintaining an element of remote working. The opportunity to work remotely will be voluntary, giving staff a choice of where they work. Anne Middleton, Head of HR for Atradius UK and…

Wales has secured its place as the place to train, work and live in the UK after receiving nine shortlisted nominations at the 2021 Student Nursing Times Awards. The annual awards, which is now in its 10th year, celebrates the achievements of student nurses across the UK and all those individuals and organisations who support them. Those shortlisted in Wales are: Most inspirational student nurse Melissa Louise Chard,Bangor University Chloe Scott,Bangor University Simon James,Swansea University Student nurse of the year – adult Simon James,Swansea University Stuart Michael John Denman,Swansea University Student placement of the year – hospital  Betsi Cadwaladr University…

Pupils from a North Wales school are today joining celebrations to mark charity Mary’s Meals reaching more than two million children with life-changing meals every school day. Thanks to its incredible supporters and volunteers in the UK and around the world, the global school feeding charity is providing a daily nutritious meal to 2,058,099 children living in some of the world’s poorest countries. St Richard Gwyn High School in Flint, North Wales, is among supporters from around the world, who are today celebrating the landmark achievement. Mary’s Meals provides food in a place of education to help even the most…

Following overnight rain and showers, more intense showers and thunderstorms are expected to break out fairly widely from late-morning on Thursday, before easing during the evening. Whilst most areas will miss the most intense storms, torrential downpours are possible in a few places. Where these occur, there is potential for 20 to 30 mm of rain in less than an hour and up to 40 mm in 2 hours. This would have the potential to generate surface water flooding, especially if it falls over an urban area. What to expect There is a small chance that homes and businesses could…

Principality Building Society has appointed a business development manager for North Wales and the border regions to support its continued growth strategy. Dafydd Pritchard, who brings with him over 34 years’ experience in the financial services industry, will be providing valuable support to the Society’s broker network in North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire, as well as Stoke-on-Trent. Dafydd’s extensive experience includes having worked at Principality for nine years as a Branch Manager, as well as holding roles as a Mortgage Advisor and Financial Advisor with HSBC previously. Dafydd is also a fluent welsh language speaker. Based in Wales, Principality is…

The UK and Welsh Government have approved the £58.7 million Swansea Bay City Deal’s Supporting Innovation and Low Carbon Growth programme. The programme will help establish the Swansea Bay City Region as a leader in low carbon growth and the green economy. Close collaboration with industry, government and academia is key to its success by delivering low carbon, sustainable and inclusive economic growth through creating the right environment to develop new technologies from the research stage, through to production, to support job creation in the region. Led by Neath Port Talbot Council with Swansea University and University of South Wales…

Wales is facing a cancer nursing crisis that could leave soaring numbers of patients without the right medical care and support, cancer charity Macmillan is warning. A new report from Macmillan Cancer Support shows the number of specialist cancer nurses in Wales needs to increase by four fifths (80%) to support the 230,000 people predicted to be living with cancer in Wales by the end of the decade. Macmillan’s new research shows that if the number of specialist cancer nurses stays at the current levels, that would leave a gap of 166 nurses in Wales. The latest available figures show…